【Project Activities】

In the Kibera slum of Kenya, we operate a year-round youth soccer league with the goal of creating an environment where children can safely devote themselves to soccer, thereby preventing delinquency and drug use and expanding their options for the future. In addition to providing food assistance on match days, we also distribute menstrual products to female players, as many are unable to attend school or are forced into prostitution due to their inability to afford them. Launched in 2022, this project has expanded in scale each year. This season, 134 teams and over 2,300 participants are taking part across five categories: U-9 to U-15 and a girls’ division. The initiative has yielded positive results, such as teams composed of street children winning awards and a select team winning the Nairobi Cup, helping children gain recognition from society and build self-confidence. In December, select boys’ and girls’ teams are scheduled to compete in an international tournament in Tanzania, further expanding the children’s horizons and potential through sports.
This season has also seen increased collaboration with Japanese private companies (sponsors). By leveraging the league’s network to support marketing and product development for companies expanding into Africa, the initiative is contributing to local job creation.

【Project Background】

In 2020, A-GOAL provided food assistance to over 10,000 people in African countries, including Kenya, where unemployment was rising due to the impact of COVID-19, using local sports clubs as hubs. Even after the impact of COVID-19 subsided, there remained many children in slums who struggled to secure daily meals due to poverty or turned to delinquency and drugs because of their circumstances. Resonating with the vision of a former Kenyan professional soccer player who wanted to create “an environment where children can pursue their dreams” through soccer, A-GOAL began providing operational support for the league. In addition to support from Japanese companies, numerous volunteers—ranging from students to working professionals—collaborate with local residents to sustain this project.

【Project Objective】

To improve the environment where children give up on their dreams due to poverty through soccer

【Project Area】

Poverty alleviation through sports

【Methods】

Support for organizing events and tournaments

【Outcomes】

・Established the local subsidiary “A-GOAL Kenya.” Starting this year, we transitioned to a system where the Kenyan side also contributes to a portion of the league’s operating costs. This has advanced locally-led management and marked a major step toward building a more sustainable league.
・Provided an environment where 2,300 children can enjoy soccer, along with meals (a total of 54,000 meals per year)
・Four children received scholarships based on athletic merit and advanced to higher education
・Several children were scouted for soccer academies, and two were selected for Kenya’s national youth teams
・Reduced delinquency and improved discipline among children participating in the league (as evaluated by parents and local schools)
・Formation of a community capable of mutual aid during floods and major fires
・Increase in the number of Japanese visitors to the Kibera A-GOAL League for project management and site visits (serving as a bridge between Kenya and Japan)

【Voices from Participants and Partners】

・The children’s obedience to referees has improved. We are grateful to all supporters who are making a significant impact on the community. This is the only league that provides meals, and it is paving the way for the children’s future. (League Organizer)
・It has become a place for growth for both coaches and children. We also see coaches learning from one another. Strict adherence to match times has taken root, and the children themselves are now mindful of the time. (Coach)
・Since “Wanabujo,” a team composed of street children, began participating in the league, the community’s perception of street children has shifted from “bad kids” to “kids who are into sports.”

【Challenges and Lessons Learned】

By collaborating with local residents who possess enthusiasm and a network, it is possible to implement sustainable and effective projects.

【URL】

朝日新聞夕刊に「キベラA-GOALリーグ」の活動が掲載されました！